Liang Wen-chong of China shot a course-record 12-under 60 yesterday to lead by five strokes after the opening round of the Hero Honda Indian Open.
The 30-year-old Liang birdied eight holes on the front nine and four more on the back, eclipsing Shiv Kapur’s record at Delhi Golf Club by two shots. The Indian shot 62 at last year’s AIS Open tournament.
“Everything fell into place. Tee shots are the key here,” said Zhongshan-born Liang, who became the first Chinese player to top the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit last year.
PHOTO: AFP
“It can be quiet intimidating standing on the tee and looking at the narrow fairways, but I knew what to do as my coach Kel Llewellyn provided me with proper guidance on how to play this course,” he said.
“Kel has coached here earlier and even played once on this course,” Liang said.
Jeev Milkha Singh of India was second. He holed a chip from the bunker for an eagle at the first, and followed it up with five birdies.
Daniel Chopra of Sweden, returning to the course where he learnt golf as a young boy, was tied for third with Lu Wen-teh of Taiwan and Sanjay Kumar of India a further stroke back.
Chopra, whose father is Indian, was runner-up in 1995 and 1996 at the Indian Open.
First round scores in New Delhi:
60 — Liang Wen-chong (CHN)
65 — Jeev Milkha Singh (IND)
66 — Lu Wen-teh (TAIWAN), Sanjay Kumar (IND), Daniel Chopra (SWE)
67 — Rick Kulacz (AUS), Simon Griffiths (ENG), Unho Park (AUS), Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA)
68 — Mukesh Kumar (IND), Prom Meesawat (THA), Karanjit S Sandhu (IND), Chang Tse-peng (TAIWAN)
69 — Lam Chih Bing (SIN), Muhammad Munir (PAK), Iain Steel (MAS), Gaurav Ghei (IND), Gavin Flint (AUS), Udorn Duangdecha (THA), Pornsakon Tipsanit (THA)
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